My two cents worth ...

Has anyone succeeded in asking/bribing a restaurant to let them see the whole process?

My guess would have been ketchup, or ketchup and vinegar.  Available since the fifties, cheap, uniform taste, basis of quick and easy, cheap sweet and sour sauce.

Or it's MSG. It's been around since 1909!!  Would be a good reason for a uniform taste.

Or if it's not ONE product, it's many products mixed together, right?

Or it's in the pots and pans.  Ever noticed if you do the same dish in the same pan the "smell that never leaves" get strong and stronger.  Add re-used oil and who knows???

Stupid question perhaps but where does your average restaurant buy its wholesale goods?  Maybe try looking there?

DD

I have to say though that the BIR recipes I've done have been pretty bloody close. 

Ground, grate ... I knew it was a 'g' word! Doh!

DD

Currynation .. now THAT'S funny!  Sounds like a great t-shirt or website ... the URL is available!!!!

:-)

DeeDee

Cheers for the excellent replies .. as usual.

Pete, how easy/hard is it to do naans?  I can bake bread so I'm guessing it's not miles off.  Also what's the timeframe from nothing to finished bread.  I mean should I make some a day before or same day as meal?

Cheers!

DD

Nothing like four different answers to instil confidence in a novice!!! 

I got the Ghee at Patel's here in Flushing (New Yawk).  They have it in everything from little jars such as this up to MASSIVE glass jars like the local newsagents used to have to sell sweets in back when I was a nipper.

So, to answer my question, if I do use it, do I stir it all up first?  It's all seperated.

In BIR's who is the favourtie GOODIE?

Garam Gardner!


Boom! Boom!

So what's the big idea with Ghee?  Is it markedly better than veggie oil? 

Are you supposed to stir it all up or skim off the clear stuff? help me out here!?!?

Also, as people were talking in other posts about Ghee to avoid i'm posting a pic of the brand I just bought.  Anyone know it? Used it?

Are we having a "products we use" section?

My vote:

1. Flock wallpaper
2. Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan warbling in the background
3. Waiters in ill-fitting red jackets with Saddam moustaches
4. Curries that demand lager
5. Tiny metal bowl with one scoop of ice cream for dessert (choice of vanilla or chocalte only)

DD

Coriander Street!!

I just got some from an Indian young lady I know whose mother gets it from India and grates it herself.  Ye gads, the AMAZING smells and taste and all around difference between store-bought and homemade!!!!!!!

For you, my fellow sad buggers, here's a piccie .... Freshly grated coriander...

BY THE WONDERS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY ... SCRATCH THE SCREEN AND SMELL THE FRESH TASTE!!!!!!



... I also just found out Coriander is related to Cilantro (second cousin, twice removed)